Surprise, surprise . . . abstinence only ed sux

[Tom]

"Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
What does abstinence have to do with sex education ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Utility. Educating people to be abstinent is as usefully as educating them to use condoms; in combination they will provide the most utility when educating people about how to best avoid STDs."


What you are decribing is indoctrination, not education.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

We have a significant societal problem with unintentional pregnancies and STDs but your solutions do not address the root causes . . . it just mollifies your moral position. I don't have a moral position on sex out of wedlock or STDs . . . in much the same manner that I don't have a moral position on cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, or steroid use. But ultimately children will adopt the values of the society (family, school, media). The worst intervention is to give an abstinence only message in a highly sexualized society. The cheerleaders' skirts cannot possibly get any shorter and the dance team's outfits cannot get any tighter.

Well before Janet Jackson's boobie flopping episode . . . sports events were corrupted by sex. Brandi Chastain is a tremendous athlete that just happened to remove her jersey (her team's athletic achievement was the event yet the media frenzy was her A-cup) . . . Anna Kournikova is a blond tart that just happens to be a passable pro tennis player. The WUSA is half-past dead while Anna Inc. is rolling in dough.

The take home is that an informed authority SHOULD provide children with the basic facts of human sexuality and then guide them through a discussion of the larger social context while encouraging children to explore their personal choices with family and other trusted authority figures. A kid from the projects (or boondocks) living with 3 siblings and an unmarried mother will likely get a much stronger abstinence/responsible sex message than "Coerced into abstinence programs" courtesy of the Bush administration.

 

[digitalsm]

Do I agree with abstinence only education? No.

But numbers do show teen age pregnancy at an all time low(since they've tracked it), and the number of highschool age virgins have gone up significantly over the past decade, of course the later is just as accurate as this study.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

I said support the information with the facts.

So because you think it's ignorance to inform children of the probability of outcomes when the choice to become sexual active is made we should ignore an aspect of teaching that would reduce STDs and teen-pregnancy?

Maybe you are ESL so let me try again. You cannot support the information with the facts because the information provided is the facts. I repeat you let the children guide the editorializing and opinion. Let them debate the pros and cons. The instructor provides clear, concise facts and then facilitates discussion about sex and its societal context.

I didn't say your probability example was ignorance . . . just inaccurate. The truth is that condoms are a highly effective means of mitigating the risk of pregnancy and STD. After citing the discrepancy between efficacy (ideal use) and effectiveness (actual use), children are queried as to why the difference exists. It's the dialogue that teaches and provides a lasting impression . . . not some poo about the evils of extra-marital sex.

Or in the context of new studies like the abstinence-pledge I cited . . . a spirited discussion on what kids think. Let's pretend Britney Spears was a virgin before she married . . . HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA . . . if she gets married, consummates the union, and then gets a divorce . . . most kids (and hopefully adults) would tell you that pledge didn't mean jack.

teenage pregnancy is at a record low...

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

teenage pregnancy is at a record low...

And? What study proves that teenage pregnancy reductions have evolved from abstinence only sex ed versus comprehensive sex ed (and other interventions)?

 

[LordMagnusKain]

Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
"Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Dead Parrot Sketch
What does abstinence have to do with sex education ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Utility. Educating people to be abstinent is as usefully as educating them to use condoms; in combination they will provide the most utility when educating people about how to best avoid STDs."


What you are decribing is indoctrination, not education.

do you understand that 'education' about condoms is also viewed as indoctrination by catholics? religious/secularist views need to be set-aside when we're dealing with this important of an issue.

 

[LordMagnusKain]

.

 

[conjur]

Study Finds Nearly Half Of Young Adults Lack STD Awareness

Guess we should preach more abstinence. It seems to be working.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Study Finds Nearly Half Of Young Adults Lack STD Awareness
Guess we should hand out more condoms. Seems to me that it would raise STD awareness.

CkG


Edit - for faulty copy/paste

 

[conjur]

WTF does Richard Clarke have to do with STD awareness, CkG?